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The Biden Administration’s Greenhouse Gas Performance Measure Increases Transparency at a Critical Time

Jul 07, 2022

Corinne Kisner, Executive Director, and Janette Sadik-Khan, Chair of the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), today issued the following statement in response to the Biden Administration’s announcement of a proposed new rule requiring States to measure and set targets for greenhouse gas emissions from transportation that are in line with the Paris agreement:

NACTO strongly supports the Biden Administration’s pragmatic greenhouse gas emissions performance measure–which aligns transportation policy with the country’s commitment under the Paris Agreement. The measure will unify a hodgepodge of incomplete data from across the country into a unified standard, where states, MPOs, and the federal government can make informed decisions about which transportation projects to invest taxpayer dollars in to reduce climate emissions.

“We can’t change what we don’t measure,” said Janette Sadik-Khan, Chair of NACTO. “With the Biden Administration’s common-sense rule, cities and states will no longer be flying blind and will know which transportation projects are the best use of taxpayer dollars.” 

The science is clear: carbon emissions are accelerating climate change, and transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gasses in the United States. The country cannot meet its commitment to the Paris agreement without reducing the 83% of transportation emissions that come from passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs. 

This sensible rule will require states to measure greenhouse gas emissions from their transportation system and set non-binding targets that are not just necessary, but that experience shows are eminently achievable. 24 states already comprehensively measure greenhouse gas emissions from their transportation systems, and many tools–from inexpensive street redesigns to billions in funding from the infrastructure bill–are available to states to ensure a livable future for all Americans.

“All Americans deserve to know the impact of their taxpayer dollars,” said Corinne Kisner, Executive Director of NACTO. “This new regulation provides the tools for measuring our progress–and will increase transparency and public trust in government at all levels.”

By setting goals in line with established science–and following through with them–states can rebuild the United States’ credibility and competitiveness, stem the increase in extreme weather events already causing widespread devastation across the country, and give Americans a brighter future.

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About the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO)
NACTO is an association of 91 major North American cities and transit agencies formed to exchange transportation ideas, insights, and practices and cooperatively approach national transportation issues. The organization’s mission is to build cities as places for people, with safe, sustainable, accessible, and equitable transportation choices that support a strong economy and vibrant quality of life. To learn more, visit nacto.org or follow us on Twitter at @NACTO and Instagram at @NACTOcities.

Contact
Alex Engel | [email protected]

For Immediate Release
July 7, 2022